Morning all.
I dipped in and out of the Liverpool v PSG game last night but I saw enough to know that when a neutral and strong referee oversees a game, Liverpool have to actually win a game for themselves. They didn’t. PSG, who we defeated 2-0 earlier in this competition by the way, scored an early goal to level the tie. Extra time, penalties and they were gonners. Newcastle Utd fans will have loved it as their team will be up against a dejected and knackered group of players in the League Cup Final at the weekend.
It was sad to see Mo Salah with tears in his eyes at the end……..
In the 15 years of Highbury House, I can’t remember Arsenal ever being in this kind of situation. Or at least I don’t recall ever writing about a scenario like tonight’s. Yes, we’ve played “dead rubber” fixtures in European competitions before but tonight’s match is a knockout fixture in the Champions League with a six goal advantage going into the home leg. It would take an absolute disaster from Arsenal for us not to go through to the next round and I don’t even want to think about that.
Mikel Arteta might consider the likes of Jorginho, Tierney, Zinchenko and Kiwior for this game plus one or two of the under 21 players included in the squad perhaps. In his pre match press conference, he said that we have no new injuries after the weekend’s game and White is now fit and ready to start a game.
Regardless of being 7-1 up following the first leg, things might have been so different had PSV not missed their early opportunities to take the lead. Irrelevant I know but it’s enough to remind ourselves that tonight’s game won’t be easy and not one player in the squad should think the job is done before going out on the pitch. Conceding six goals at home is unlikely but what we cannot do is give PSV the slightest of belief that they can pull this tie back.
Mikel Arteta:
We understand what happened in the first game and the direction that it could have taken in the first 10 minutes. After all the control that we had, if we give the goal away or if the referee would have given the second yellow card to Myles, it’s very simple. This is football, you have to earn it and we’re going to have to do a great job tomorrow again to win the game.
That’s why I don’t think Arteta will rotate his players as heavily as ‘some’ might like or expect. PSV won’t turn up thinking of anything other than being competitive and trying to win the game because getting thumped 7-1 at home last week must have felt awful. As Bosz said in his pre match interview, he wants his team to prove they are better than that. He did hint at making changes too as he has one eye on the league title.
Did you guys see what William Saliba had to say yesterday about his future?
I’m really happy here. Because we have some years (to go on his contract) There is no rush at the minute. I want to win big things with Arsenal. If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here.
I know what footballers say and do can be two different things sometimes but when there’s something good said, I’m taking it as real. There’s no reason for him to lie after all, he could have just said he doesn’t want to talk about anything other than tonight’s game.
Interestingly, Big William was a bit down on his own performances this season as he said he’s not played as well as he could. That’s a top professional for you, always wanting to do better and to be better. A good role model for the younger players.
Finishing with tonight, it’s a big no for Neto starting in my opinion. I’d rather see one of the younger keepers start if Raya desperately needs a break. I feel the same about Sterling because in a couple of months time they’ll both be gone whereas someone like Kabia will be hoping to follow the path both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have trodden this season. Anyway, we’ll see in just a few hours time how Arteta approaches the game but I doubt he’ll do anything rash.
Catch up in the comments.
Good Morning Rico
Knowing Arteta he would play the first 11 available at the moment.
Ideally he should provide the first 11 with rest while those back from injury and the young ones get a chance. Personally I would change them all.
With regards Timber and Martinelli (Isn’t MLS in the same boat as well?) its a bit of head scratching. They need just one yellow to get a game suspension. So let’s say today they aren’t played and they play in the first leg and get yellow carded. They will sit out the 2nd leg. It will always cut any way you look at it.
Good morning Rico our own spin-master with just a hint of Shakespeare. I just hope we can avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune tonight. 😉
Not too much tinkering with the defence please. Midfield and attack? A such as Arteta likes.
Is there a bit of a warning in Big Bill Saliba’s quote? Win something soon or he may be off to pastures new.
Much not such.
Morning Devil, Cicero..
Ha ha Cicero, I thought you’d be the one to spot the ‘dipped into’.. 😂
I too have a feeling will play a strong team.
But good point made by potter on the last post, if Timber picks up a booking he’ll miss the next game… White to start then with Tierney at left back..
I don’t think so re Saliba as he said he wants to win things with Arsenal…
Morning. The lads must stay alert tonight and keep a mindset of ” Stay switched on everyone and don’t get complacent because we are 7 goals ahead”. Hopefully they will score more goals to keep the gap because like we have said here, PSV will want to correct what went wrong at their home ground.
Yesterday’s game re Liverpool. For me they made two big errors – Nunez and Jones taking a penalty! What??!! We all know that Nunez struggles at the best of times to score.
Agreed, don’t give them a sniff of a comeback. I don’t think we will regardless of who plays.
Chris Kavanagh has been appointed referee for Arsenal’s home match against Chelsea on Sunday, with Jarred Gillett on VAR.
Gillet on VAR.? 😡
I too think Arteta will go strong,from the start anyway. Hopefully we can substitute some senior players once we score a couple of goals.
It would make sense though to start Jorginho,White,Kiwior and maybe one of the younger keepers,that’s not exactly weakening the team much.
Technically PSV need to win by 6 goals to take the game to extra time/penalties. I don’t think for a minute that would happen,but the best thing for us would be to score some goals.
On the yellow cards,I get Devs point,I saw that yellow cards are wiped off after the quarter finals anyway so who knows.
I didn’t see the Liverpool game but the look on Mo Salahs face was priceless,too late to benefit Arsenal but Newcastles chances have improved.
COYG
Gillett hmm, he’s not the sharpest razor in the box.
Gillett. 😉 u
That’s how I see it Limey, cement our lead and then make changes. The last thing we want to be doing is conceding a couple of early goals.
😂 How ironic that Sterling used to be the guy in the advert…
A striker, a striker, my kingdom for a striker.
We don’t need one Kev. 😜
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Sesko is the sun.